| epidemic typhus in the united states associated with flying squirrels. | between july 1977 and january 1980, seven cases of sporadic, nonepidemic "epidemic" typhus (rickettsia prowazekii) were discovered in virginia, west virginia, and north carolina. the reservoir seemed to be the southern flying squirrel (glaucomys volans), an animal indigenous to the eastern united states; however, the vector or mode of acquisition was not evident. diagnosis was established principally through complement fixation, indirect immunofluorescence, and toxin neutralization tests. patien ... | 1981 | 6785459 |